Volume 8, Issue 2 Global Connections April 2013elthamcollege.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Global-Connec… · Global Connections April 2013 Page 2 of 6 Excellence Assembly

ELTHAM College’s Bridging English program provides intensive training to increase English language skills. This program allows students to gain additional language support in a non-threatening and collaborative environment. Students have the option of having a flexible timetable that can be adapted depending on their level of English language skills. ELTHAM College’s Bridging English program maintains small classes to provide maximum support for students, and is the ideal environment to develop strong English language skills necessary for maximum achievement in the VCE.

Putting the finishing touches on the bridge

Global Connections Volume 8, Issue 2 April 2013

Judy Rothacker - Director of International Students E: [email protected] Jan Warwick - International Registrar E: [email protected]

T: +61 3 9437 1421 W: www.international.elthamcollege.vic.edu.au CRICOS Provider No. 00138D

SMALL CLASSES, GREAT RESULTS

Bridging English Coordinator Karen Lindner with the current

class of Bridging English students

Celebrating our new Sports Centre

In December 2011 the Sports complex at ELTHAM College was destroyed by hail and flooding from storms. Fast forward to March 2013 and the official opening of the rebuilt and modernised facility was celebrated by the entire school community together with many ELTHAM graduates who have become sporting champions in their chosen discipline. A new indoor basketball stadium, indoor heated swimming pool, dance studio and café are among the centre’s features. Sport plays an important role in developing healthy well-rounded young people. At ELTHAM College there is a range of House Carnivals and the school participates with other schools in the EISM (Eastern Independent Schools Melbourne) weekly interschool sports. In addition, the ‘Friends of Groups’ program extends sport into elite and further co-curricular

areas, such as: kayaking, hockey, aerobics, tennis, snow skiing and more.

World famous V8 racing car driver Jamie Whincup offi-

cially opening the new Sports centre at his old school

Global Connections April 2013 Page 2 of 6

Excellence Assembly

It is important that we celebrate excellence in its huge variety. Each Year we hold an Excellence Assembly to celebrate the results of the previous year. Certificates were awarded with the most outstanding VCE/ATAR result going to Annabelle Pendelbury (99.35) Others achieved great results and are doing interesting things. Tim Anderson, for example, is taking a year off from commencing science at Melbourne University, to train for selection in

the Australian Kayaking team. Tim scored 98.65. He is being joined by his older brother, Al, who has just completed his science degree and is taking a training year before starting his Masters. Also congratulated for their "Living the Life" Excellence Awards were Jason Smedley, who joins a successful team of ELTHAM graduates as an Apprentice Chef at Mercers Restaurant and Harry Bevilacqua, who is fast becoming

recognised for his talents and successes in Gaming/Animation (a very exciting creative area for the future). We define excellence in terms of achieving personal bests. Professor John Hattie, University of Melbourne cautions teachers to not accept 'your best' but to aim higher. Continuing to strive for personal bests is exactly this! We also congratulated the Counsellors in the LifeWork Centre for their excellent job in supporting students to achieve their passions.

Advice from our LifeWork Centre

In the LifeWork Centre students are able to receive help for any aspect of their lives that affect their study. Help and advice is offered on study skills, career and University options, relationship issues and life skills such as time and stress management.

We have gathered some top tips from our past successful students about the general attributes and behaviours of successful learners:

1. Always put a lot of effort into English/EAL - it is a vital subject for University entrance and will help with all your other subjects too

2. Have a balance in your life, so make time for fun things you enjoy and don’t just study all the time.

3. Ask for help from your teachers as soon as a problem arises, don’t wait until it’s a big problem

4. Keep up with homework but learn how to

prioritise it 5. Don’t leave study until the last minute! Work

steadily throughout the year 6. Know in advance what assessments are coming

up for all subjects so you plan your time 7. To improve your results, work hard on your

weaker areas. If you ignore them, they will reduce your marks Don’t stress about next year – no matter what score you get, there is a way to get to where you want to be

8. Before exams, do as many practice exam papers as you can – the more you do, the better the result!

9. Start reviewing notes and making summaries for the end of year exams regularly throughout the year, don’t wait until just before end of year exams to start summarising

10. Get enough sleep! You can’t possibly do your best work if you are tired because your brain will not be at it’s 100% best.

Students with their Excellence Certificates

Prospective parent Chen Hui meets

with Karen Lindner in Shenyang


Connecting with Students and their Families in Hong Kong, Macau, Beijing and Shenyang

ELTHAM College endeavours to make personal contact with families whenever possible. International staff have recently attended education exhibitions in Hong Kong, Macau, Beijing and Shenyang and enjoyed meeting with parents and agents to update them on the progress of our students from these areas. Further visits are planned for later this year. Parents of our Final Year students have also recently received invitations to attend our end of year celebrations in October. We hope as many parents as possible will be able to join us to celebrate the achievements of this year’s graduating students.



Judy Rothacker meeting with Tanny Tang,

Wen Sheng and Mavis Yip

Judy Rothacker and Jan Warwick

meeting with Shaowen Cai

Judy Rothacker, Director of International Students and Jan Warwick, International Registrar at the

AEAS Exhibition in Hong Kong

The successful launch of our Ambassador’s Program has led to the inaugural ELTHAM Shield competition. Students from our Multicultural Reference Group, whose aims include bringing together students from throughout the college for social and team-building experiences, planned and conducted the first of three challenges involving a Mystery Ingredients Cooking

Challenge. Congratulations go to Jason Li, Kardelen Kara and Josh Rayson who won the challenge with a rice dish entitled ‘Hidden Dragon’. The aim of the Shield is to promote harmony and mateship in the Senior school, celebrate the end of Term one and have fun. The next challenges in the ELTHAM Shield will include a basketball match and academic quiz in Term 2. Angus Watson, Wendy Hu and Lauren Ran-

dall preparing their dish

Introducing the ELTHAM shield

Hearing stories of the achievements of our alumni is one of the highlights for staff in the international department. Our annual International Student Reunion was held on Friday 22nd March at our new City Campus in Melbourne’s CBD. The event was well attended, and was a great opportunity for alumni to network with the peers from different student cohorts who are working or studying in Melbourne. Also present were some of our current Year 12 students, who benefited

enormously from the opportunity to seek advice on university life from our past students. ELTHAM College maintains an active alumni presence through our ExECs network and encourages all past students to update their contact details with us to ensure they can take advantage of the growing network of ELTHAM College alumni worldwide. Please contact Ann Plush at [email protected] for details.

International Student Reunion


Matthew Chan and Jolina Fu with Judy Rothacker, Director

of International Students Clare Samson, English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Teacher, with Dennis Gao, Class of 2012

Graduates, students and staff at the International Students

Reunion

mailto:[email protected]

Since 1974, Eltham College has been preparing students to embrace the world beyond school and achieve their individual dreams. So where are our graduates now? Here are just a few of the many success stories our alumni have to tell. Jolina Fu, Class of 2008 Bachelor of Commerce The University of Melbourne Master of Applied Finance Monash University “ELTHAM College helped me to build up great personalities in terms of confidence, positive attitude, which led me to a brighter career.”

Jason Kan, Class of 2010 Bachelor of Arts University of Melbourne “ELTHAM College’s university-like atmosphere prepares students for transition to university very well.”

Rachel Chan, Class of 2007 Now works for Bupa Insurance as a consultant between Australia and Hong Kong.

“When I arrived at ELTHAM College is felt like a playground – because schools in Hong Kong are too small. I remember my Year 9 camp experience. That was my first time camping. Judy found me boots for camping, and my Homestay Mother – Dianna – took me to the camping shop and bought the sleeping bag. I had to carry around 10kg that included food, water and a tent for 6 days and I had to walk about 15km. After that I will never go camping again!! However, that was a very good experience, and memorable because that would never happen when you study in Hong Kong. Mathew Wing Fun Chan, Class of 2007 Bachelor of Arts Monash University Now working for Benson Bei Property Consultants in Melbourne “ELTHAM College helped me to build up confidence to communicate with Aussies in a short period with different fields of interest, in order to work out our way in the future.”

ELTHAM College Alumni - where are they now?




Jolina and her new husband with Jolina’s former ELTHAM College homestay mother, Suzanne Hails, who attended their

marriage in Melbourne

Rachel and her brother Simson (also an ELTHAM College graduate) meeting with Judy Rothacker in Hong Kong

Jason exploring the Victorian wilderness


Documents

Volume 8, Issue 2 Global Connections April 2013elthamcollege.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Global-Connec… · Global Connections April 2013 Page 2 of 6 Excellence Assembly